Cheshire East

Cheshire East's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, health and religion.

The population passed 370,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Cheshire East increased by 5.2%, from almost 352,000 to 370,000.

The addition of about 18,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cheshire East was home to, on average, 2.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Cheshire East

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Cheshire East increased by three years, from 40 to 43 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the North West and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 12,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 10,000.

About 13% of people in Cheshire East are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Cheshire East by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Cheshire East

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Cheshire East, but at a slower rate than across the North West.

In Cheshire East, the proportion of single people increased from 25% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 30% to 36%.

Across the North West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of married people in Cheshire East fell from 57% to 52%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Cheshire East residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.2% to 4.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Cheshire East residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North West. The improvement brought health in Cheshire East close to the national average 5.5% in England described their health as good in 2011).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Cheshire East decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Cheshire East, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Cheshire East

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 23% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 23% in 2001

The number of people in Cheshire East that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 43,000 in 2001 to about 84,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 12% to 23% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Cheshire East that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 280,000 in 2001 to about 250,000 in 2011 (from 80% to 69%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 23,000 to about 25,000 (from 6.5% to 6.7%).

Just over 2,400 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 1,400 in 2001 (0.7%).

The population without a religion in Cheshire East increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Cheshire East by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Cheshire East

The percentage of Cheshire East residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.7% to 3.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.4%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.8% in 2001. The percentage of Cheshire East residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Cheshire East

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 97% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 97% in 2001

The number of people in Cheshire East from the White ethnic groups increased from about 350,000 in 2001 to just under 360,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Cheshire East from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,900 in 2001 to about 6,100 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 1.6%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 2,100 to just under 3,900 (from 0.6% to 1.1%).

About 1,400 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 710 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Cheshire East decreased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Cheshire East by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Cheshire East, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.0% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Cheshire East fell from 13% to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 78% to 74%.

Private renting in Cheshire East increased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cheshire East, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Cheshire East working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Cheshire East decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Cheshire East, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Cheshire East, but at a slower rate than in Staffordshire Moorlands (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Cheshire East).

In Cheshire East, the proportion of households without children increased from 61% in 2001 to 62% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Staffordshire Moorlands increased from 59% to 63%.

Across the North West, the share of households without children increased from 59% to 61%.

The proportion of households with children in Cheshire East fell from 29% to 28%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 9.7%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Cheshire East, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.6% to 9.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37%) households had a married couple, compared with 42% in 2001. The percentage of households in Cheshire East, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.0% to 9.5%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Cheshire East residents that were studying increased from 2.4% to 2.8% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 54%, while the percentage of Cheshire East residents that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 3.2%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Cheshire East residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Cheshire East remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Cheshire East by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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